Script development programme for fiction feature film projects at an early stage.
ScriptLab is focused on fiction feature films, both original ideas and adaptations, in early stages of development. Both experienced and emerging filmmakers from all over the world develop their projects through peer-to-peer group work, with the support of professional script consultants.
For a complete overview of the programme, please visit the ScriptLab page.
DURATION: From April until November 2024. The programme comprises 3 week-long residential modules (April, June and November) and 2 online modules (September and October).
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 6th November 2023, 4.00 pm CET.
If you missed the ScriptLab 2024 join the Q&A Zoom session with the curator Amra Bakšic Camo contact sofia.falchetto@torinofilmlab.it for the recording.
ScriptLab is organised by TorinoFilmLab - National Museum of Cinema with the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA Sub-programme of the European Union. ScriptLab 2024 is realised in partnership with Der Divan - Das Arabische Kulturhaus - hosting the first workshop in Berlin; the City of Porto - hosting the second workshop in Portugal - with Filmaporto – Film Commission, Portugal Film Commission, ICA - Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual; and Focal who will support the participation of one project from Switzerland.
ScriptLab is open to both experienced and emerging writer/directors, or teams of writer and director, from all over the world. It is possible to apply as an individual or as a team of two. Projects by a scriptwriter without an attached director are not eligible.
Many of our participants already work together with a production company. However, it is not necessary to have a producer attached to the project. Filmmakers applying with an adaption project need to have secured the rights.
ScriptLab is for projects at an early stage of development only, thus projects who already have drafts of the screenplay, will not be considered. Application is with a synopsis, a CV, a letter of intent and motivation as well as previous works. A treatment will be required should the project be selected for the second stage of the application process.
Eligibility Criteria
a. Only one project application per year, per filmmaker, can be submitted.
However, a project that is refused one year, can be resubmitted another year if it has gone through substantial changes. The same project cannot be submitted a third time if rejected the second time around.
b. Applicants must confirm their full availability for all the residential and online workshops, as well as for the TFL Meeting Event.
c. The working language of all workshops, meetings and events is English; thus, a good knowledge of English is essential in order to participate, and all written materials, all versions and drafts of the project, must be translated into English.
Course participation fee: 2,500 Euro (+ VAT, if due). Extra fee of 2,000 Euro (+ VAT, if due), if a second person also attends the programme.
The fee covers training activities (residential and online sessions) and organizational support (including accommodations and part of the subsistence during the residential workshops). Participants must pay their travel costs.
Our commitment is to guarantee accessibility to the TFL’s activities to as many talented participants as possible and to ensure diversity and inclusion through selection of projects/participants.
Across TFL programmes, a limited number of scholarships - covering half of the participation fee - will be available for participants from racial and ethnic underrepresented groups and/or being from a country not providing scholarships for this kind of training; or participants in any other proven situation of need for financial support. We strongly encourage our applicants to research and apply for financial support within your national/regional funding bodies first, who may have bursaries and grants to cover the training costs.
In addition, thanks to the support of Projecto Paradiso one Brazilian filmmaker selected in ScriptLab 2024 will be offered a scholarship covering the participation fee and 1 air ticket.
1st module: 6th – 12th April 2024 (Berlin, Germany)
2nd module: 13th – 20th June 2024 (Porto, Portugal)
3rd module: 9th – 13th September 2024 (online)
4th module: 28th October – 1st November 2024 (online)
5th module & TFL Meeting Event: 19th – 24th November 2024 (dates TBC – Torino, Italy)
The requested materials – to be submitted all together in 1 single PDF (10 MB max.), and all in English – are:
- A project synopsis (2 page maximum, Courier New 12, double spaced);
- A director’s intention note (3 pages maximum, Courier New 12, double spaced);
- A CV (2 pages maximum);
- A document explaining why do you think ScriptLab will be useful for you and your project (2 pages maximum, Courier New 12, double spaced);
- Links to previous audio-visual works, clearly displayed - not embodied in the text (with password, if needed) *
* Submitted materials should be in English or have English subtitles/translation; showreels will not be accepted.
Any application package that won’t include all the requested materials will be considered ineligible.
IMPORTANT!
Preselected applicants will be notified by email on 15th - 16th December 2023 and will be asked to submit a TREATMENT (15 pages maximum, Courier New 12, double spaced) + MOODBOARD (optional) by 18th December 2023, 4.00 pm CET.
Any project that will not respect the 18th December deadline will be automatically excluded from the selection.
After this pre-selection, the shortlisted applicants will be notified at the beginning of February and will be interviewed via Zoom meetings from 23rd to 26th February 2024.
Please click on the "Apply Now!" button to access the application form and submit your project. Before starting the process, you must create an account on the TFL Visitor Page (if you don’t have one yet).
Deadline for applications: 6th November 2023, 4.00 pm CET
For more information, please contact the project manager Sofia Falchetto: sofia.falchetto@torinofilmlab.it
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